Fifth Inning Offense, Bullpen Combine for Baseball's Comeback Victory Over Griffins

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Baseball team took the 6-4 comeback victory over regional opponent Seton Hill (Pa.) on Tuesday during the team's midweek non-conference game at home.
 
Seton Hill made quick work in their first plate appearance to get on the board, taking advantage of an error from freshman Hunter Layhew, who got the start for Frostburg on the bump, sitting with a 1-0 lead after the first half inning.  Redshirt freshman CJ Carmichael recorded the first hit of the game for either team in his first at-bat, sending a single over to third and then stealing second, but was left on base to end the inning.  Layhew struck out the first batter of the second, as junior catcher Kade Abrisz was able to start a rundown with a runner at first to get the out, but the Griffins were able to steal another run for a 2-0 game.  Senior Ryan Adams came in to throw to get the final out of the inning with bases loaded, earning a K to end the rally for SHU.
 
Sophomore Ryan Bouma knocked a double to center to begin the bottom of the second, advancing over to third after redshirt junior Ben Wieman put the ball in play.  Freshman Manny Hall then skied a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Bouma to trot home to put the Bobcats on the board.  Adams put two on in the top of the third, getting out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts to leave the score at 2-1.  Sophomore Jackson Schalick and senior Mikey Guy were both credited singles in the bottom of the inning, both being left stranded to keep the game at 2-1 after three. 
 
Adams recorded another K to open the fourth, as redshirt freshman Cody Sharman took over after a Griffin was walked.  Seton Hill immediately sent one over the left field fence for a two-run shot and a 4-1 contest. Sharman recorded a duo of outs in response, as Wieman sent out a single in the bottom half of the inning, but the Bobcats were unable to do any damage.  The lefty showed a 1-2-3 outing in the fifth, pushing that energy into the bats of FSU, as Frostburg rallied for six hits and four runs to jump in front 5-4.  Sophomore Brian Scott got the at-bat going with a single to right, advancing to third after Schalick roped a double to the opposite side of the field.  Carmichael then put the ball back on the right side, pushing out a two-RBI double that scored both Scott and Schalick.  Guy was then given a single, as Carmichael tried to score from second but was thrown out before an RBI double from Bouma and a sacrifice fly from Wieman helped tie the score and give the Bobcats their first lead of the game. 
 
Junior Joe Pippin made his way to the bump to start things off in the sixth, facing the minimum and racking up a pair of K's in the outing.  FSU went three-up three-down at the plate as well to move the game to the seventh, where Pippin coughed up a double-play and another strikeout to end the inning and keep Frostburg on top. Guy was the lone Bobcat to see a hit in the bottom of the seventh, as sophomore Bryce Hendricks took over on the mound in the top of the eighth, seeing three for three quick outs.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Scott drew a two out walk to put one on for FSU, coming around to score right away on an RBI double to left center from Schalick.  Redshirt senior Nate Vermillion came in to close the game for Frostburg in the top half of the ninth, striking out the first Griffin and recording two more consecutive outs to give the Bobcats the 6-4 comeback win. 
 
Schalick and Guy led the offensive route for Frostburg with three hits each, both scoring a run while the former was credited with an RBI.  Carmichael and Bouma were next with a pair each, while four other Bobcats recorded one.  Sharman was given the win for his first of the season, while Vermillion racked up his fifth save of the year.  FSU's pitching staff combined for 11 total K's on the day, giving up just two hits, all helping Head Coach Anthony Williams earn his 300^th career win.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 28-12 on the season, while Seton Hill goes to 28-11.  The Bobcats are back in action this weekend for a two-day four-game series with Salem (WV) starting on Saturday, April 26 at 1 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.